2nd Epiphany 2020, Our Father's

2^nd Epiphany

Luke 2, 41-52

Pinturicchio

Every year his [Jesus’] parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they took him with them. Now after they had gone there and fulfilled the custom during the days of the feast, they set off on their way home. But the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know this; they thought he was among the company of the travelers. After a day’s journey, they missed him among their friends and relations. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

After three days they found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And those who heard him were amazed at his mature understanding and his answers.

And when they saw him, they were taken aback, and his mother said to him, “My child, why have you done this to us? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”

And he said to them, “Why did you look for me? Did you not know that I must be and live in that which is my Father’s?”

But they did not understand the meaning of the words he spoke to them. And he went down with them again to Nazareth and followed them willingly in all things.

And his mother carefully kept all these things living in her heart. And Jesus progressed in wisdom, in maturity and grace [favor] in the sight of God and man.

2^nd Epiphany

January 19, 2020

Luke 2: 41-52

When the youth Jesus went to visit the temple in Jerusalem, he underwent a

Ferrari

mysterious transformation.

The sweet and loving boy of great warmth and compassion was suddenly infused with ripe understanding and sharpness of intellect. He was drawn to the temple to engage its teachings and its leaders. His own life, his own future mission flashed up and began its forward press.

Meanwhile his parents discovered that they had lost him. And even when they found him, they barely recognized him, so changed was he. The bright and shining soul star, the star that had drawn the priest-kings to find him, had entered into the temple of his body. He leapt forward in wisdom, maturity and grace.

There are such times of transformation in all of our lives. The natural one occurs at the beginning of adolescence, when the child’s own soul destiny is born. The soul star of destiny enters the temple of the body.

As adults our progress in wisdom, maturity and grace becomes a project pursued consciously. It is the ever-renewed work of a lifetime--the polishing of the star of our destiny, so that it shines in the spirit, shines on earth.

The light of wisdom grows bright in us as we open ourselves in warm interest, in self-imposed open tolerance, to the ideas and thoughts of others.

Our maturity progresses as we open our hearts in sympathy, in compassionate empathy, in affirmation of our fellow human beings.

Our grace increases as we resolve ever and again to rise and take hold of the world of the spirit, to cultivate in our own hearts and habits the ideals that dwell there, in the realm of the stars.

Thus may we also be and live in that which is our Father’s.

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